Akala ni Charlie, matiwasay na lilipas ang buong araw. Wala naman kasing naging violent reaction sa rebelasyon niya tungkol sa kanilang dalawa ni Kelly. But that was just a presumption because Tori appeared in his office without prior notice.
Victoria Santibañez, whom people often call Tori, is the only heiress of the Santibañez Estates. She and Charlie were childhood friends. May connections kasi ang businesses ng mga pamilya nila. At kahit na magkaiba ang landas na pinili nilang tahakin nang lumaki na sila—he pursued law and she's into fashion—ay naging madalas pa rin ang pagkikita at pagkakasama nila dahil sa mga gatherings, bukod pa sa madalasang pag-aya ni Tori kay Charlie na samahan siya sa mga lakad nito.
"We need to talk." Tori stormed inside his office. Ni hindi man lang ito bumati.
He was surprised to see her. "Oh, Tori. What brings you here today?" he casually asked as he glanced at her.
"I said, we need to talk."
He took a deep breath. He eyed her for a moment.
Maganda si Tori, walang duda iyon. Pero hindi maamo ang mukha niya. She would always looked fierce, na bagay naman niya dahil maputi at matangkad rin ito. She looked sophisticated all the time, maybe because she was really into that kind of fashion. But this time, she looked... raging.
"Talk about what, Tori?" Kalmado siyang tumayo mula sa swivel chair na inuupuan niya.
She violently put her designer bag down on his desk and started staring at him with piercing eyes. "This whole damn thing!" she exclaimed. "You know, I will still be able to forgive you for ignoring me for weeks because they told me you went to London for a business trip. But getting married in a snap? Tell me this is a goddamn joke!"
He sighed. "Tori, I'm sorry for not responding to your calls and messages. But yes, I already got married."
Biglang nanikip ang lalamunan ni Tori. Hindi na rin maipinta ang mukha nito. "W-why?" she stammered. Bitterness was so obvious in her voice.
"Kasi gusto gusto ko nang magpakasal."
"But why?" She stomped her foot like a kid. "Why do you have to get married right away? Did you get that girl pregnant? If she's pregnant and you're the baby daddy, you could just support her pregnancy and the baby. Hindi n'yo naman kailangan magpakasal. Hindi mo siya kailangang panagutan, Charlie!"
"Tori, she's not pregnant. I married her because I already want her to be my wife."
"Who even is that girl?"
"Siya ang babaeng mahal ko, Tori."
Natigilan ito sa sinabi niya. She suddenly felt how her chest tightened. "K-kailan pa?" she asked. Her voice cracked.
Tiningnan lang niya ito ngunit hindi niya sinagot ang tanong.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He sensed pain and bitterness in her tone. Alam niyang nasasaktan na ito sa mga ipinagtatapat niya. But he seemed to be apathetic even he didn't want to.
"How about me, Charlie? Paano ako? Paano tayo? Paano 'yong sa 'tin?" she questioned. Her voice cracked again.
Bumuntonghininga siya. "Tori, walang tayo," he casually reminded her.
She shook her head in disbelief. "But you know I love you. Charlie, you know I love you, right? I've been waiting for you all my life." A tear escaped from her eye.
Napalunok siya. "But you are aware that we're just friends, Tori," tahasang ngunit kalmadong wika niya.
"Friends can be lovers, too!"
BINABASA MO ANG
Chasing Sanity (Chase Series #1)
RomanceCOMPLETED | R18 | MATURE CONTENT After so many failed attempts of escaping from the unfortunate life she's in, Kelly Santiago already accepted that she was trapped in a living hell. But then, Charlie Montefiore, an elite lawyer with a good reputat...
